A Tour of Tuscany
Florence
• Best known for
– Artists
– Chianti
– Olive oil
– Shopping
– Fashion
– Museums
– “David”
Florence
• Museums
– Accademia
• Michelangelo’s David
– Uffizi Art Gallery
• Medici Collection
• Caravaggio collection
• Raphaello
Florence
• Duomo (cathedral)
– Started 1296
– All but dome completed 1418
– Totally finished 1436
– Gothic style
– Façade demolished 1587
– Finished rebuilding 1887
– Bronze doors added 1899-1903
Florence
• Bronze Doors of the Duomo
– Depictions from scenes of the Bible
– South doors designed by Andrea Pisano
– North and East doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti
• North took 21 years and East took 27 years
Chianti
• Tuscany’s most famous wine
– Made from the Sangiovese grape
– Can be blended but must contain 85% Sangiovese
– Mild acidity and tannin
– Regulated by Denominazione di Origine
Controllata (DOC), a wine classification system
Brunello
• Tuscany’s “best” and most expensive wine
– Must be from Brunello de Montalcino region
– Made from 100% Sangiovese grape
– Highly regulated by the Denominazione di Origine
Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), the highest
grading system in Italy
Siena
• Originally a Roman military colony in 1st
century B.C.
• 1260 Allied to Florence
• 2/3 of population killed by plague in 1348
• Only city in Europe to ban motor traffic
Monteriggioni
• An amazing walled village
– Walls and towers all intact
• Cover 570 meters with 14 towers
• Construction began 1213 – finished 1219
Pienza
• Located in the province of Siena
• Rebuilt from a village called Corsignano
– Construction began 1459
• Contains Papal and Bishop Palaces
Montalcino
• Castle was overtaken by Siena and destroyed
– Later re-occupied by Nobles with Florence’s help
– Rebuilt in 1269
• Center of Brunello wine district
Food of Tuscany
• Eating style differs from United States
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Long drawn out dinners
Several courses
Wine at every meal (lunch and dinner)
Take much pride in cuisine
Salad served last as a digestif
• Different courses to expect
– Antipasti (appetizers), Zuppe e Primi (soup and pasta),
Secondi (second course), Contorni (side dish), Insalate
(salad), Dolce (dessert)
Food of Tuscany
• Popular Dishes
– Bistecca alla Fiorentina
• 2.2lb porterhouse from Chianina cows (white)
• Cooked with traditional balsamic vinegar
– Lasagne
– Pappa col Pomodoro
• Hardened bread with tomatoes and herbs
– Prosciutto
• Italian cured ham
Foods of Tuscany
• Popular Dishes (cont)
– Conigilo (rabbit)
• Either stewed or sautéed with vegetables
– Pizza
• Crust is only about 1/8 in thick
• Baked for 90 sec in brick ovens
• Many different toppings from prosciutto to truffles
Foods of Tuscany
• Balsamic Vinegar
– Traditional product of Modena (next to Tuscany)
– Made from boiled down grape juice
– Put in different wood barrels (cherry, oak, etc)
– Aged from a minimum of 12 years to 100+ years
– End product is absolutely amazing
Foods in Tuscany
• Cheeses Produced
– Parmesan
• Best quality aged for 36 months
– Mozzarella
• Actually made in southern Italy with Buffalo milk
• Must be eaten within 24 hours of production
– Pecorino
• Hard sheeps milk cheese aged for 1+ years
– Gorgonzola
Italian bleu cheese
Foods in Tuscany
• Cured Meats
– Prosciutto or Parma Ham
• Air cured ham served uncooked
• Very delicious
– Tuscan Salami
• Matured pork sausage
– Manzo
• Dry cured with salt for few weeks
• Wrapped in casing and smoked
Shopping in Tuscany
• Italy is home to many high end designers
– Verace
– Diesel
– Dolce and Gabbana
– Armani
– Prada
– Gucci
– many more
• All can be found walking downtown Florence
Foods of Tuscany
• Common Items Produced
– Olive oil
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Olives are fruit from Mediterranean evergreen
Once ripe they are handpicked and moved to the press
Pressed within 24-48 hours of harvest
Extra Virgin is the first and best press
All others are inferior in taste and quality
When in Tuscany
• Make sure to.....
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Enjoy many Italian meals
Visit local cured meat processors
Check out cheese making
Attend a wine tasting
Take a trip to Modena and experience Balsamic
Vinegar first hand
– Visit other towns than Florence, there is much to see
– Check out the high end designer stores
• It will change your life forever!!!!